Contents

Peak is a fourteen-year-old boy who Rock climbing through his parents. His father, Josh Wood, has almost never seen them and leads climbing expeditions. Because there are few places where Peak can climb, he scales skyscrapers to tag them with graffiti of a mountain. During one climb, he gets caught after his face becomes injured from being frozen to the wall. He is sent to Juvenile Detention Hall. After another boy attempts to scale the Flatiron, inspired by Peak, and falls to his death, Peak is sent to court, where Josh returns and agrees to take him back to Chiang Mai.
Josh and Peak fly to Bangkok, Thailand. Josh tells Peak that they are not going to Chiang Mai, where Peak was expecting to go, but will be traveling to Kathmandu, near Mount Everest. At the Summit Hotel in Kathmandu, Josh leaves Peak and tells him to wait for one of Josh's friends, a Buddhist monk by the name of Zopa. Zopa will take him to Everest Base Camp, where they will prepare for the long climb up Everest. Sun-jo, a Nepalese boy who is the same age as Peak, takes Peak to Zopa on a broken motorcycle. Sun-jo, Peak, Zopa, and two Sherpa brothers named Yogi and Yash travel to Base Camp. When they get there, Peak meets Holly Angelo, a reporter, who forced Josh to take her to the top of mount Everest, who happens to be the same reporter that almost got Peak jailed, and he learns that she will be climbing the mountain with him. Peak realizes at this point that his father bailed him out of jail to come and climb Mount Everest. If he makes the climb, he will be the youngest person to reach the summit. Later, a German climber suffering from H.A.P.E., a type of altitude sickness, is brought down the mountain in a Gamow bag.

Josh, the film crew, Sparky, Dr. Krieger, Thaddeus Bowen, Zopa, and Sun-jo attend a meeting to discuss the climb. Josh asks about Sun-jo's health, and wonders if he can make it to the top, explaining that "Peak either makes it [to the summit] on the first try or he doesn't [make it at all]."[2] Sun-jo has caught a virus that has been spreading through the camps. Josh asks Sun-jo how old he is and finds out that he is fourteen also, and that he and Peak are climbing for the same reason. He also finds out Sun-jo was born in Tibet but his father moved to Nepal. He returned to Tibet through forged documents, and if Chinese officer Captain Shek patrolling the area finds him, he will be taken away and arrested.

After a few rough days of climbing, there is intrigue involving a climbing party that does not want Peak to summit. Zopa pretends to take Peak away from the camp, but instead, Peak continues climbing on a faster but more dangerous route with the help of Zopa, Sun-jo, Yogi, and Yash. They reach the summit, but Peak lets Sun-jo make it to the top and take the title of the youngest climber to ever climb Mt. Everest. Reaching the top would save Sun-jo and his sisters from poverty; with the money from the equipment endorsements he would receive, they would all be able to go back to school. Sun-jo ties Peak's yellow prayer flag to the top, while Peak records the whole thing on a video camera. After Peak comes back down the mountain, he flies home after saying goodbye to Josh. When he gets home, his parents throw his sisters a birthday party and tell him how they missed him. Peak speaks with his teacher, who tells him that his notebooks are due; Peak had been writing in them throughout his climb. Peak finishes his second notebook with the observation: "The only thing you'll find on the summit of Mount Everest is a divine view. The things that really matter lie far below."[3]

This book was favorably reviewed in Publisher's Weekly, which described the book as "the perfect antidote for a kid who thinks books are boring.... The hook here is irresistible," and "the nifty plotting, gripping story line, and Peak's assured delivery give those who join this expedition much to savor."[4] It goes on, saying

In 2012, Peak was listed as one of the American Library Association's "Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults."[5]

1.
Mount Everest
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Mount Everest, also known in Nepal as Sagarmāthā and in China as Chomolungma/珠穆朗玛峰, is Earths highest mountain. Its peak is 8,848 metres above sea level, Mount Everest is in the Mahalangur Range. The international border between China and Nepal runs across Everests summit point and its massif includes neighbouring peaks Lhotse,8,516 m, Nuptse,7,855 m, and Changtse,7,580 m. In 1856, the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India established the first published height of Everest, then known as Peak XV, at 8,840 m. The current official height of 8,848 m as recognised by China and Nepal was established by a 1955 Indian survey, in 2005, China remeasured the height of the mountain and got a result of 8844.43 m. An argument regarding the height between China and Nepal lasted five years from 2005 to 2010, China argued it should be measured by its rock height which is 8,844 m but Nepal said it should be measured by its snow height 8,848 m. In 2010, an agreement was reached by both sides that the height of Everest is 8,848 m and Nepal recognises Chinas claim that the rock height of Everest is 8,844 m. In 1865, Everest was given its official English name by the Royal Geographical Society upon a recommendation by Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India. As there appeared to be several different local names, Waugh chose to name the mountain after his predecessor in the post, Sir George Everest, Mount Everest attracts many climbers, some of them highly experienced mountaineers. There are two main climbing routes, one approaching the summit from the southeast in Nepal and the other from the north in Tibet, as of 2016 there are well over 200 corpses on the mountain, with some of them even serving as landmarks. The first recorded efforts to reach Everests summit were made by British mountaineers, with Nepal not allowing foreigners into the country at the time, the British made several attempts on the north ridge route from the Tibetan side. Tragedy struck on the descent from the North Col when seven porters were killed in an avalanche. They had been spotted high on the mountain that day but disappeared in the clouds, never to be seen again, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary made the first official ascent of Everest in 1953 using the southeast ridge route. Tenzing had reached 8,595 m the previous year as a member of the 1952 Swiss expedition, the Chinese mountaineering team of Wang Fuzhou, Gonpo, and Qu Yinhua made the first reported ascent of the peak from the north ridge on 25 May 1960. In 1802, the British began the Great Trigonometric Survey of India to fix the locations, heights, starting in southern India, the survey teams moved northward using giant theodolites, each weighing 500 kg and requiring 12 men to carry, to measure heights as accurately as possible. They reached the Himalayan foothills by the 1830s, but Nepal was unwilling to allow the British to enter the country due to suspicions of political aggression, several requests by the surveyors to enter Nepal were turned down. The British were forced to continue their observations from Terai, a region south of Nepal which is parallel to the Himalayas, conditions in Terai were difficult because of torrential rains and malaria. Three survey officers died from malaria while two others had to retire because of failing health, nonetheless, in 1847, the British continued the survey and began detailed observations of the Himalayan peaks from observation stations up to 240 km distant

2.
Flatiron Building
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The building sits on a triangular block formed by Fifth Avenue, Broadway, and East 22nd Street, with 23rd Street grazing the triangles northern peak. As with numerous other wedge-shaped buildings, the name Flatiron derives from its resemblance to a clothes iron. The neighborhood around it is called the Flatiron District after its signature building, the Flatiron Building was designated a New York City landmark in 1966, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989. The site on which the Flatiron Building would stand was bought in 1857 by Amos Eno, Eno tore down the four-story St. Germaine Hotel on the south end of the lot, and replaced it with a seven-story apartment building, the Cumberland. On the remainder of the lot he built four buildings for commercial use. This left four stories of the Cumberlands northern face exposed, which Eno rented out to advertisers, including The New York Times, who installed a sign made up of electric lights. Eno later put a screen on the wall, and projected images onto it from a magic lantern on top of one of his smaller buildings, presenting advertisements. Both the Times and the New York Tribune began using the screen for news bulletins, and on election nights tens of thousands of people would gather in Madison Square, waiting for the latest results. During his life Eno resisted suggestions to sell Enos flatiron, as the site had become known, but after his death in 1899 his assets were liquidated, and the lot went up for sale. Instead, the lot was bought at auction by William Eno, one of Amoss sons, three weeks later, William re-sold the lot to Samuel and Mott Newhouse for $801,000. Black, CEO of the Fuller Company, the Fuller Company was the first true general contractor that dealt with all aspects of building construction except design, and they specialized in building skyscrapers. Black intended to construct a new building on the site, despite the recent deterioration of the surrounding neighborhood. The building, which would be Burnhams first in New York City, the Flatiron Building was designed by Chicagos Daniel Burnham as a vertical Renaissance palazzo with Beaux-Arts styling. Early sketches by Daniel Burnham show a design with an clockface, though Burnham maintained overall control of the design process, he was not directly connected with the details of the structure as built, credit should be shared with his designer Frederick P. Working drawings for the Flatiron Building, however, remain to be located, though renderings were published at the time of construction in American Architect and Architectural Record. Building the Flatiron was made feasible by a change to New York Citys building codes in 1892 and this opened the way for steel-skeleton construction. It was a familiar to the Fuller Company, a contracting firm with considerable expertise in building such tall structures. At the vertex, the tower is only 6.5 feet wide, viewed from above

3.
Bangkok
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Bangkok is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep. The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres in the Chao Phraya River delta in Central Thailand, over 14 million people live within the surrounding Bangkok Metropolitan Region, making Bangkok an extreme primate city, significantly dwarfing Thailands other urban centres in terms of importance. Bangkok was at the heart of the modernization of Siam—later renamed Thailand—during the late 19th century, the city grew rapidly during the 1960s through the 1980s and now exerts a significant impact on Thailands politics, economy, education, media and modern society. The Asian investment boom in the 1980s and 1990s led many multinational corporations to locate their headquarters in Bangkok. The city is now a regional force in finance and business. It is a hub for transport and health care, and has emerged as a regional centre for the arts, fashion. The city is known for its vibrant street life and cultural landmarks. The historic Grand Palace and Buddhist temples including Wat Arun and Wat Pho stand in contrast with other tourist attractions such as the scenes of Khaosan Road. Bangkok is among the top tourist destinations. It is named the most visited city in MasterCards Global Destination Cities Index, Bangkoks rapid growth amidst little urban planning and regulation has resulted in a haphazard cityscape and inadequate infrastructure systems. The city has turned to public transport in an attempt to solve this major problem. Five rapid transit lines are now in operation, with more systems under construction or planned by the national government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. The history of Bangkok dates at least back to the early 15th century, because of its strategic location near the mouth of the river, the town gradually increased in importance. Bangkok initially served as a customs outpost with forts on both sides of the river, and became the site of a siege in 1688 in which the French were expelled from Siam. After the fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese Empire in 1767, the newly declared King Taksin established his capital at the town, in 1782, King Phutthayotfa Chulalok succeeded Taksin, moved the capital to the eastern banks Rattanakosin Island, thus founding the Rattanakosin Kingdom. The City Pillar was erected on 21 April, which is regarded as the date of foundation of the present city, Bangkoks economy gradually expanded through busy international trade, first with China, then with Western merchants returning in the early-to-mid 19th century. As the capital, Bangkok was the centre of Siams modernization as it faced pressure from Western powers in the late 19th century, Bangkok became the centre stage for power struggles between the military and political elite as the country abolished absolute monarchy in 1932

4.
Kathmandu
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Kathmandu is the capital city of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the largest Himalayan state in Asia. Kathmandu is also the largest metropolis in the Himalayan hill region, the city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres above sea level in the bowl-shaped Kathmandu Valley of central Nepal. The valley is termed as Nepal Proper and has been the home of Newar culture. The city was the capital of the Kingdom of Nepal and hosts palaces. It has been home to the headquarters of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation since 1985, today, it is the seat of government of the Nepalese republic established in 2008, and is part of the Bagmati Zone in Nepalese administrative geography. Kathmandu has been the center of Nepals history, art, culture and it has a multiethnic population within a Hindu and Buddhist majority. Religious and cultural festivities form a part of the lives of people residing in Kathmandu. Tourism is an important part of the economy as the city is the gateway to the Nepalese Himalayas, there are also seven casinos in the city. In 2013, Kathmandu was ranked third among the top ten upcoming travel destinations in the world by TripAdvisor, historic areas of Kathmandu were devastated by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake on 25 April 2015. Nepali is the most spoken language in the city, while English is understood by the citys educated residents, the city of Kathmandu is named after Kasthamandap temple, that stood in Durbar Square. In Sanskrit, Kāṣṭha means wood and Maṇḍap means covered shelter and this temple, also known as Maru Satal in the Newar language, was built in 1596 by Biseth in the period of King Laxmi Narsingh Malla. The two-story structure was entirely of wood, and used no iron nails nor supports. According to legend, all the used to build the pagoda was obtained from a single tree. The structure collapsed during the earthquake on 25 April 2015. The colophons of ancient manuscripts, dated as late as the 20th century, the city is called Kāṣṭhamaṇḍap in a vow that Buddhist priests still recite to this day. Thus, Kathmandu is also known as Kāṣṭhamaṇḍap, during medieval times, the city was sometimes called Kāntipur. This name is derived from two Sanskrit words – Kānti and pur, Kānti is a word that stands for beauty and is mostly associated with light and pur means place. Thus, giving it a meaning as City of light, among the indigenous Newar people, Kathmandu is known as Yeṃ Deśa, and Patan and Bhaktapur are known as Yala Deśa and Khwopa Deśa

5.
Everest Base Camp
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Everest Base Camp is either of two base camps on opposite sides of Mount Everest South Base Camp is in Nepal at an altitude of 5,364 metres, and North Base Camp is in Tibet at 5,150 metres. These camps are rudimentary campsites on Mount Everest that are used by mountain climbers during their ascent and descent, South Base Camp is used when climbing via the southeast ridge, while North Base Camp is used when climbing via the northeast ridge. Supplies are shipped to the South Base Camp by sherpas or porters, the North Base Camp has vehicle access. Climbers typically rest at base camp for several days for acclimatization to reduce the risks, the Everest Base Camp trek on the south side is one of the most popular trekking routes in the Himalayas and is visited by thousands of trekkers each year. Trekkers usually fly from Kathmandu to Lukla to save time and energy before beginning the trek to this base camp. However, trekking to Lukla is possible, there are no roads from Kathmandu to Lukla and as a result, the only method of transporting large and heavy goods is by plane. In 2015, it was noted that about 40,000 people per year take the trek from the Lukla airport to the Nepal Everest Base Camp. From Lukla, climbers trek upward to the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar,3,440 metres and it takes about two days to reach the village, which is a central hub of the area. Typically at this point, climbers allow a day of rest for acclimatization and they then trek another two days to Dingboche,4,260 metres before resting for another day for further acclimatization. Another two days takes them to Everest Base Camp via Gorakshep, the field below Kala Patthar,5,545 metres. On 25 April 2015 an earthquake measuring 7.8 Mw struck Nepal, at least 19 people were said to have been killed as a result. Just over two weeks later, on May 12, a second quake struck measuring 7.3 on the moment magnitude scale, some of the trails leading to Everest Base Camp were damaged by these earthquakes and needed repairs. A visit to the North Base Camp currently requires a permit from the Chinese government, such permits must be arranged via travel companies in Lhasa as part of a package tour that include hiring a vehicle, driver and guide. The North Base Camp is accessed by vehicle through a 100 km road branching to the South from the Friendship Highway near Shelkar, the tourist Base Camp is located about halfway between Rongbuk Monastery, the actual climbers Base Camp is at the foot of Rongbuk glacier

6.
Khumbu Icefall
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The icefall is considered one of the most dangerous stages of the South Col route to Everests summit. The Khumbu glacier that forms the icefall moves at speed that large crevasses open with little warning. Huge blocks of ice tumble down the glacier from time to time and it is estimated that the glacier advances 0.9 to 1.2 m down the mountain every day. Most climbers try to cross the icefall during the early morning, before sunrise. As the intense sunlight warms the area, the friction between the ice structure lessens and increases the chances of crevasses opening or blocks falling, the most dangerous time to cross the Khumbu Icefall is generally mid- to late-afternoon. Camp I on Everests South Col route is slightly beyond the top of the Khumbu Icefall. On occasion, a climber will experience a large block of ice crashing down in their vicinity, the resulting blast of displaced air and snow can result in a dusting. To those that have experienced it, it is an unnerving experience. It is virtually impossible to run away or even to know which way to run and those bodies have been recovered and given proper burials. Since the structures are changing, crossing the Khumbu Icefall is extremely dangerous. Even extensive rope and ladder crossings cannot prevent loss of life, many people have died in this area, such as a climber who was crushed by a 12-story block of solid ice. Exposed crevasses may be easy to avoid, but some may be hidden under dangerous snow bridges, around 6,30 am local time, on the morning of 18 April 2014,16 Nepalese climbers were killed by an avalanche in the Khumbu Icefall. As of 22 April,13 bodies had been recovered, the climbers were preparing the route through the dangerous icefall for the spring climbing season when the avalanche engulfed them. Nine others sustained blunt trauma injuries

7.
Affair of the Dancing Lamas
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The Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government protested strongly about the film and the performances required of the monks and they went on to ban future expeditions. The true cause of the fuss was kept secret and Hazard remained the scapegoat for over fifty years. Historically, Tibet had not been willing to allow foreign explorers into the country, monastic opposition to the arms and the expeditions increased until by 1925 the country was close to revolution. The Tibetan army chief was closely associated with the British and the debacle was probably responsible for his fall from grace in 1925. The subsequent decline of influence within the Tibetan government may have made the country more vulnerable to the Chinese takeover in 1950. Fearing Russian military intervention into Tibet, in 1904 the British Raj made an incursion into Tibet led by Francis Younghusband. Sometimes known as the Mission to Lhasa, this was instigated by Lord Curzon. The ensuing 1904 treaty and 1906 convention formalised Chinese suzerainty over Tibet while declaring that it would permit no foreign interventions, in 1910 China invaded Tibet and to escape the savagery the Dalai Lama fled to Sikkim, where he was sheltered by the British. Sikkim, sandwiched between India and Tibet, was under firm British protection and was nominally an independent state. Following the Xinhai Revolution, which established the Republic of China in 1912, the Dalai Lama returned to Lhasa and Britain briefly supplied armaments to what it now regarded as an independent country but the First World War in Europe led to Britain losing interest. By 1919 a renewed fear of Russia and China felt by both Britain and Tibet led to a desire for closer diplomatic relations. Charles Bell, Britains political representative in Sikkim, was sent to Lhasa at the end of 1920 to negotiate and he was the first European to be invited to Lhasa and he stayed for almost a whole year. Bell and Thubten Gyatso, the Dalai Lama, developed a personal friendship. In 1921, Britain again started supplying Tibet with arms, ammunition, military support, on his 1904 military mission, Younghusband had seen Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. And had enthused Curzon with the idea of a grand British imperial expedition to make the first ascent of the mountain, eventually this led to Britains magisterial Alpine Club adopting the idea in celebration of its 1907 golden jubilee. Mount Everest lies on the border between Nepal and Tibet but neither country would allow entry to foreign expeditions, the Secretary of State for India refused to request permission from Tibet and then the 1914–18 War intervened. In 1913 John Noel had entered Tibet clandestinely and had reached to within forty miles of Mount Everest, after the war, in an attempt to inject new impetus, Noel was invited to address a joint meeting of the Royal Geographical Society and the Alpine Club. Noels 1919 talk was inspirational and the two societies again started lobbying, Younghusband wrote to the Secretary of State for India to see if Tibet could be asked for permission

8.
1933 British Mount Everest expedition
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During Wager and Wyn-Harriss attempt, the ice-axe belonging to Andrew Irvine, who disappeared with Mallory on the 1924 attempt while going for the summit, was found on the flanks of the north face. This permission was won by the work of the India Office, the government of India and Lt-Col J. L. R. Weir. There was an urgency to their work owing to a British fear that the Germans and it fell to the Mount Everest Committee, the body that funded all pre-war attempts on Mount Everest, to appoint a leader for the expedition. Hugh Ruttledge was chosen as leader, with the proviso that, at years of age. Ruttledge was keen on inviting Mount Everest veterans, neither Noel Odell nor T. H. Birnie had also been on the Kamet expedition, as transport officer. Individually they are good men, but they are a close corporation, with, it seems to me. All members of the expedition who lived in Britain were expected to submit themselves to a physical and psychological test by the RAF Medical Board, the Mount Everest Committee furnished £5,000 towards the costs of the expedition, which were estimated at £11, 000–£13,000. Further funds were secured by means of Ruttledges book contract with Hodder & Stoughton, a deal with the Daily Telegraph. Many companies supplied items of equipment free of charge or at a discount, in addition, a number of lightweight emergency tents were bought by Longland. High-altitude leather double-boots with clinker nails on their leather soles came from Robert Lawrie of Burnley, while approach boots were supplied by John Marlow and Son, knee-high camp boots made of sheepskin and wool came from Clarke, Son and Morland. Dr T. Magor Cardell and Mr Hamblin jointly designed high-altitude goggles with orange-tinted glass, puttees, made in Kashmir to a design suggested by General Bruce, were also taken. Beale of London supplied 2,000 feet of Alpine Club rope, as with previous expeditions to Mount Everest, supplemental oxygen was taken. The decision was made to use it above the North Col. The main party left England by sea on 20 January 1933, stopping at Gibraltar, the party alighted at Bombay, where they were assisted by C. E. Boreham, the manager of the Army and Navy Stores. Ruttledge, an India hand, took them on sightseeing tours to Agra, llakpar Chedi, Lewa and Nursang were selected as sirdars. In addition, Nima Tendrup, a veteran of many expeditions to Mount Everest, karma Paul, who had been on the 1922 and 1924 British expeditions, was taken as interpreter. On 2 March, in front of the Planters Club in Darjeeling, Ruttledge remarked that the ceremony was conducted with a quiet dignity which no one who was privileged to be present will ever forget. Those with no Himalayan experience departed first, on 3 March, the second group, the expedition was entertained by F. Williamson, the political agent in Sikkim, who gave the party their passport with the Tibetan governments seal

9.
Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai sometimes written as Chiengmai or Chiangmai, is the largest city in Northern Thailand. It is 700 km north of Bangkok and is situated amongst the highest mountains in the country, the city sits astride the Ping River, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River. Chiang Mai means new city and was so named because it became the new capital of the Lan Na kingdom when it was founded in 1296, succeeding Chiang Rai, the former capital founded in 1262. Chiang Mai gained prominence in the sphere in May 2006. Chiang Mai was one of three Thai cities contending for Thailands bid to host the World Expo 2020, ayutthaya, however, was the city ultimately chosen by the Thai Parliament to register for the international competition. Chiang Mai has positioned itself to become a Creative City and is considering applying for Creative City status with UNESCO, Chiang Mai was one of two tourist destinations in Thailand on TripAdvisors 2014 list of 25 Best Destinations in the World, where it stands at number 24. Chiang Mais historic importance is derived from its proximity to the Ping River. While officially the city of Chiang Mai only covers most parts of the Mueang Chiang Mai district with a population of 160,000, the Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area has a population of nearly one million people, more than half the total of Chiang Mai Province. The city is subdivided into four wards, Nakhon Ping, Srivijaya, Mengrai, the first three are on the west bank of the Ping River, and Kawila is on the east bank. Nakhon Ping district comprises the part of the city. Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kawila consist of the west, south, the city center—within the city walls—is mostly within Srivijaya ward. King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai in 1296 on the site of a city of the Lawa people called Wiang Nopburi. Chiang Mai succeeded Chiang Rai as the capital of the Lan Na kingdom, Pha Yu enlarged and fortified the city, and built Wat Phra Singh in honor of his father Kham Fu. The ruler was known as the chao, with the decline of the Lan Na Kingdom, the city lost importance and was occupied by the Burmese in 1556. Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam in 1775 by an agreement with Chao Kavila, because of Burmese counterattacks, Chiang Mai was abandoned between 1776 and 1791. Lampang then served as the capital of what remained of Lan Na, Chiang Mai then slowly grew in cultural, trading, and economic importance to its current status as the unofficial capital of Northern Thailand, second in importance only to Bangkok. The modern municipality dates to a district that was created in 1915. It was upgraded to a municipality on 29 March 1935, as published in the Royal Gazette, first covering just 17.5 km2, the city was enlarged to 40.2 km2 on 5 April 1983

The Bangkok city proper is highlighted in this satellite image of the lower Chao Phraya delta. Notice the built-up urban area along the Chao Phraya River, which extends northward and southward into Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan Provinces.

Bangkok's major canals are shown in this map detailing the original course of the river and its shortcut canals.

The Lho La is a col on the border between Nepal and Tibet north of the Western Cwm, near Mount Everest. It is at the …

Lho La behind where the Khumbu Icefall turns to become the Khumbu glacier. Behind are Changtse and Everest's West Ridge

Lho La (middle left)

Everest, Southwest Face. Khumbu Glacier's Ice Fall is bottom left with Lho La above and the snowfield of the Rongbuk Glacier (middle left) behind the col. The West Ridge slopes diagonally from Lho La over the West Shoulder to the summit.

The Hillary Step is, or possibly was, a nearly vertical rock face with a height of around 12 metres (39 ft) located …

The Hillary Step on the ridge leading up to the summit (2010 photo)

Looking up along the southern ridgeline, the face of the step is visible. The face in shadow on the left is the South-West face, and in the light to the right is the top of the East/Kangshung face.

In this pre-2015 view of Mt. Everest, the high point is the summit; to the right of the summit, the southeast ridge slopes down to the Hillary Step, and then rises up to the South Summit. This is looking at the Step from the West looking east to its side